of her) we winded round the Grotto, and afcended at the Back of it, out of the mournful Dale in whose Bottom it lay. On this Eminence we halted, by her Advice, to pant for Breath; and lifting our Eyes, which 'till then were fixed downwards, felt a fullen fort of Satisfaction, in obferving thro' the Shades what Numbers had entered Ifland. This Satisfaction, which appears to have Ill-nature in it, was excufable, because it happened at a time when we were too much taken up with our own Concern, to have Respect to that of others; and therefore we did not confider them as fuffering, but our felves as not fuffering in the most forlorn Estate. It had also the Groundwork of Humanity and Compaflion in it, though the Mind was then too deeply engaged to perceive it; but as we proceeded onwards it began to discover it felf, and from obferving that others were unhappy, we came to question one another, when it was that we met, and what were the fad Occafions that brought us together. Then we heard our Stories, we compared them, we mutually gave and received Pity, and fo by degrees became tolerable Company.

A confiderable Part of the troublesome Road was thus deceived; at length the Openings among the Trees grew larger, the Air feemed thinner, it lay with lefs Oppreffion

upon

upon us, and we could now and th en discern Tracts in it of a lighter Greynefs, like the Breakings of Day, fhort in Duration, much enlivening, and called in that Country Gleams of Amusement. Within a fhort while these Gleams began to appear more frequent, and then brighter and of a longer Continuance; the Sighs that hitherto filled the Air with fo much Dolefulnefs, altered to the Sound of common Breezes, and in general the Horrors of the Island were abated.

When we had arrived at last at the Ford by which we were to pass out, we met with thofe fashionable Mourners who had been ferried over along with us, and who being unwilling to go as far as we, had coafted by the Shore, to find the Place, where they waited our coming; that by fhewing themselves to the World only at that time when we did, they might feem alfo to have been among the Troubles of the Grotto. Here the Waters, that rolled on the other fide fo deep and filent, were much dried up, and it was an eafier Matter for us to wade over.

The River being croffed, we were received upon the further Bank by our Friends and Acquaintance, whom Comfort had brought out to congratulate our Appearance in the World again. Some of thefe blamed us for staying

fo long away from them, others advised us against all Temptations of going back again; every one was cautious not to renew our Trouble, by asking any Particulars of the Journey; and all concluded, that in a Case of fo much Affliction, we could not have made choice of a fitter Companion than Patience. Here Patience, appearing ferene at her Praifes, delivered us over to Comfort. Comfort fmiled at his receiving the Charge; immediately the Sky purpled on that fide to which he turned, and double Day at once broke in upon me.

VISION III.

GUARDIA N. No 56.

Quid mentem traxiffe polo, quid profuit altum Erexiffe caput? pecudum fi more pererrant.

I

Claud.

Was confidering laft Night, when I could not fleep, how noble a Part of the Creation Man was defign'd to be, and how diftinguished in all his Actions above other Earthly Creatures. From whence I fell to take a view of the Change and Corruption which he has introduced into his own Condition, the groveling Appetites, the mean Characters of Senfe, and wild Courses of Paffions, that caft him from the Degree in which Providence had placed him, the debafing himself with Qualifications not his own, and his degenerating into a lower Sphere of Action. This infpired me 04 with

with a mixture of Contempt and Anger; which, however, was not fo violent as to hinder the Return of Sleep, but grew confused as that came upon me, and made me end my Reflections with giving Mankind the opprobrious Names of Inconfiderate, Mad and Foolish.

Here methought, where my waking Reason left the Subject, my Fancy pursued it in a Dream; and I imagined my self in a loud Soliloquy of Paffion, railing at my Species, and walking hard to get rid of the Company I defpifed; when two Men who had over-heard me made up on either hand. Thefe I obferved had many Features in common, which might occafion the Mistake of the one for the other in those to whom they appear single, but I, who faw them together, could easily perceive, that tho' there was an Air of Severity in each, it was tempered with a natural Sweetnefs in the one, and by turns constrained or ruffled by the Designs of Malice in the other.

I was at a lofs to know the Reason of their joining me fo briskly, when he whofe Appearrance difpleafed me moft, thus addreffed his Companion. Pray, Brother, let him alone, and we shall immediately fee him transformed into a Tyger. This ftruck me with Horror, which the other perceived, and pitying my Disorder, bid me be of good Courage, for

tho'